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@with rates ktstrat @fitta GEORGLE'H. TAYLOR, OF' NEW YORK, N. Y.l

Leiters Patent No. 75,217, dated M'arci 3,1868.

APPAEAQIUS FOR EXERCISE.

digednhnle maar in' in tigrsr trttctsutmt mit uniting ant rf .tige santi.

TO ALL 'WHOMIT MAY CONCERN.:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. TAYLOR, of New York city, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Medical Kn'eading and Vibrating-Machin o, thepurpose of which is to apply kneading and vibrating motions to the body or any` of its parts, underthe direction of a. competent physician, to aid insecuring the following therapeutic eliects: reinforcing the circulation of the blood in weak parts and obstructed capillaries,

removing congestion, promoting intestinal and digestive absorption, increasing the attraction of the products of waste for oxygen, and their consequent removal from the body, solidifying the tissues, equalizing and invigorating the nutritive operations of the body.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the `accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which*- Figure 1, sheet 1, shows a top view of my invention,

Figure 2, a longitudinal vertical section through y y of tig. I, and

Figure 3, a transverse vertical section through :c x.

Figure 4 is a side view of a modieation of the same, and

Figure 5 is a vertical section through z z of iig; 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts-` I construct a couch, A, in any convenient form, having a top or upholstered portion, B, so arranged with Y hinges, C, at one end, and a catch or spring-ratchet, D, and jointed levers near the other end, as to be capable of elevation and depression, so as thereby to adjust the position of the body lying thereon to the desired action and eiect of the machine. The top of the couch has an opening, E, of siz'e and shape suitable to admit one or i moreheaded rods, F, which in size, shape, and position, are adapted to impinge against that portion ofthe body `resting on the couch immediately over` the before-descril ed opening. The lower ends of the headed rods F are attached to the lever Gr at equal distances from its fulcrum, which distances may be varied to produce more or less motion, as may be desired. In figs. 1, 2, and 3, the fulerum ofthe lever Gr is on the vertical bar H, which turns freely on pivots or centres at each end, and the said lever is driven by a crank, K, on the shaft M, which gives to its ends c. circular motion. The upper ends of the headed rods F pass through rings, which guide them, and, in conjunction with the lever G, give to theupper ends of said rodsl a compound motion, the same being bo'th lateral, vertical, and circular at the same time. The distance of the rings from the axis of the swinging or pivoted bar isxed and kept equal by thparallelogram of levers I, to the outer corners of which, respect ively, the said'rings are attached. The lower corner of the said parallelogram of levers is attached to the bar H by a pivot or pin, on -.vhieh the two levers composing said lower corner freely swing, while the upper. corner is held in position and adjusted to any desired height by the bolt and nut J. The shaft M maybe driven by any' suitable means, as by the crank Q, bya belt acting on the pulley O, or by a suitable treadle.

' Inythe modication of my machine, shown in figs. 4 and 6, the lever Gris hung ona rock-shaft, R, which is drivenby 'the crank or arm S, and the upper ends ofthe rods F pass through holes in the frame'of the couch.-

The motion thereby imparted to the upper ends of the rods F is thus confined to one vertical plane, being acircular reciprocating motion.

This latter form of my machine is simpler, cheaper, and more easily adjusted and managed, but for many' cases `the form shown in gsfl, 2, and 3 is the better. v

The lever G may be driven, if desired, by the hand or foot applied to an extension of one 0f its arms', as at D or P, shown in red. n

Forthe purposeof producinga kneading motion7 in cases in which such a motion is desirable, the machines nre driven at such a. speed as willproduce from fifty oi less to two or three hundred upward motions per minute, while for producing a vibrating motion, consisting of orveaused by ar'apidsuccession of slight shocks or blows; the form of the machine shown in rigs. and is' used, and it is in such cases driven ata speed ofk from about two to twelverhundred or more upward motionsper minute. The eiiects of these two degrees of motion are very' different, becoming of course more similar as they 'approach the common point or speed of about two hundred per minute.

,A slow motion, or, as have termed it, lineadingf is in its ciects laxative,.soothing, 'and calculated to increase muscular action and development, while the rapid or vibrating motion stimulates absorption of the huids, equalizes their distribution throughout the body, and promotes the excretion of all those products which in health are thrownoff from the system.

When it is desired to give to the machine the rapid motion above stated, it will be found most convenient to drive it by steam or other power, or, if driven by hand, additional gearing willfacilitate obtaining the desired speed. l

f It is obvious that alterations and changes maybe made'in the details of construction in the above-described machine, without changing in any manner the essential character of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The headed rods F, driven by any suitable mechanism for producing a reciprocating or circular motion of the headed ends of said rods, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination, with the headed rods' F,of the lever G, said lever Gbeing driven substantially as described to produce the motion set forth.

3. The combination, with the headed rods F and lever G, ofthe crank l, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y

4. The combination, with the headed rods F and lever G,of th l e jointed parallelogram I, constructed and operating substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the headed rods F, of the top, B, ofthe couch, said top, B, being,` made adjustable to different angles ot inclination by means of the hinges C and a p'awl or prop working in a rack or ratchet, or their equivalents, substantially as set forth.

GEO. H. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. GRIFFIN, MILTON BRADLY. 

